Most of us remember: “I want an official Red-Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time!” How many times did we all hear Ralphie in “A Christmas Story” plead to his mother, his teacher, Santa, anyone who would listen?
And the inevitable: “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
You may be smiling at the innocence of the era, how Ralphie yearned for that BB gun, a rite of passage. You may have given a little chuckle at youthful exuberance clashing with adult authority. You may remember your own adventures running around playing cops and robbers, or with your little green army men. Or you may be getting angry at the thought of children asking to play with guns.
Our culture has changed dramatically since the pre WWII era in which “A Christmas Story” was set. There aren’t many more topics that will immediately make people stand at attention and share their opinion than guns…other than guns and children. And not without reason.
This article is not about real guns, though. It is about toys, as holiday shopping is upon us. Safety is always a parent’s concern, and there are obvious dangers involved with toy guns that I don’t have to elucidate. What about dangers that aren’t as obvious?
Toy guns can be dangerous, but not in the way you might initially think. This holiday season you will see some toy gun packaging actually carrying this warning: “This product may be mistaken for an actual firearm by law enforcement officers and others.”
Right now Ohio is considering the “John Crawford Bill,” named after a young man killed by police who mistakenly thought his air rifle was deadly. This comes on the heels of a 12-year-old shot to death in Cleveland when police believed he had a real gun. Unfortunately, stories like these are not unheard of.
The idea behind the Ohio bill, and others across the country, is to require toy guns to look obviously distinct from real guns in shape and color. There is a federal “look-alike” law prohibiting imitation firearms that can be applied to toys. However, state and local law varies in content and effectiveness. New Jersey went so far as to categorize the popular Airsoft gun as a firearm.
If you do choose to purchase a toy gun for your child, be vigilant about where and when to use it for play, no matter what it looks like. Above all, do not allow him or her to take it to school. In this age of hairpin-triggered fear of school shootings, not only is that in bad taste, but your child will face discipline when caught. Parents have found themselves fighting suspensions, expulsions and even criminal charges of their children.
In recent years, schools have been hyper-vigilant and quick-to-punish at even the mention of guns. “Zero-Tolerance” policies have brought punishments upon children for anecdotes, jokes, pictures or stories. One third-grader in Colorado was suspended for drawing a soldier with a gun and knife. Last year in Pennsylvania, a five-year-old girl was given a 10-day suspension for simply talking at a bus stop with friends about playing with her Hello Kitty bright pink bubble-blowing toy shaped like a gun at a bus stop. Her comment about shooting the bubble gun at her friend was labeled a “terroristic threat,” and she was questioned by the school principal for three hours then suspended.
Regardless of your views on guns, the fact is toy guns exist. They’re not all imitations of the real thing, they come in all colors and styles and even have cute Hello Kitty branding. You can try to shield your child, but inevitably guns will enter their consciousness. If you choose to allow your child to have a toy gun, be vigilant about how, when and where your child plays with that toy. An Empowered Parent uses knowledge of the world around them to keep children safe. He or she does not dictate from a place of fear, creating forbidden fruit out of every potential danger. A truly Empowered Parent teaches their children age-appropriate lessons about safety, responsibility, empathy, self-respect and respecting others. Arm your children with knowledge and character so that they can make smart decisions and stay safe.
Valerie Borek, Esq. is a Delaware County native with a passion for empowering people. She believes a strong family is a building block to strong communities. She founded her law firm to serve families with a focus on parenting and family rights. As a mother herself, she knows that parents face tough choices and need support. Valerie is grateful to be in a profession where she can guide people through life’s circumstance so they can focus on the things in life that matter most.
Valerie finds her greatest motivation in helping families strengthen their health and wealth. These two foundational areas of life resonate through the day-to-day and when we feel comfortable and secure in these spheres, we are free and enabled to create and nurture the lives we desire. Visit her at www.vboreklaw.com
